President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga, met today the US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Ms. Catherine Russell, with whom she discussed the initiatives for empowerment of women in Kosovo.
President Jahjaga pointed out that Kosovo, as a young state, has undertaken a proactive approach to the augmentation of the participation of women in public life and decision making, inclusive of their representation at the Parliament of Kosovo and in both central and local levels.
President Jahjaga informed Ambassador Russell with the institutional endeavours in Kosovo on provision of help for re-integration and rehabilitation of the survivors of sexual violence during the war, pointing out the work of the National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War, as a coordinative mechanism with clear objectives, which aims the recognition of the legal status for this category and access to services and economic empowerment of women touched by this form of torture.
President Jahjaga asked Ambassador Russell for the support of the United States of America for the internationalization of the sufferings of the survivors of sexual violence during the war, Kosovo’s inclusion on all global initiatives on this issue and highlighted the need for seeking of justice, which will help the victims find their peace, and enable their re-integration and their de-stigmatization in the society.
Ambassador Russell praised the advances which Kosovo has achieved on gender equality and expressed her readiness to help Kosovo in the forthcoming processes.